Adoption

Yesterday marked an important day in the history of the Gawlowicz family. On November 17, 2006, JJ and I became the 'official' parents of our children. I use the word official lightly because we had already been a family since they moved in September of 2004. However, it all became official on November 17th. I will never forget the flood of emotions as the judge declared us parents and the children were able to use the last name Gawlowicz.

I have so many mental snapshots of that day. Karam getting sleepy cause we sat in court for so long. The boys being goofy. Our friends and family who were there for the big moment with us. Meeting our lawyer for the first time. Saying goodbye to the kid's caseworkers and guardian ad litems. Realizing it was finally real. Karam holding my hand as we walked into the courthouse. The kids in their crowns.....so many snapshots.

Just wanted to share the memories with you:

AI Moment

You may have picked up from my blog posts earlier this year that I am a huge AI fan...addict...admirer...devotee...follower...groupie...supporter...lover...etc. Just sayin'.

I love the show, we pick our favorites each year, cheer them on, and pray for them to win. Sadly, my favorite from this past year's season did not win. I was a big Danny Gokey fan and still cannot wait for his album to come out. However, Kris Allen was definitely my second choice and I was thrilled to pieces when he won over Adam--who I found slightly scary.

In my blog browsing today, I found that Kris's new single is out and his album will be released on November 17th. Here's the video for his first single:

While I am looking forward to the new season in January, I am apprehensive about the changes in judges, differences, ... nervous, but still eagerly waiting.

Letters for Troops

Tampa-Area Chick-fil-A Restaurants and United States Postal Service

to Host Military Letter Writing Family Night on Nov. 10

Chain’s Kid’s Meal to include USPS premiums nationwide

TAMPA, FL (Nov. 10, 2009) – Just in time for Veterans Day, the Tampa-area Chick-fil-A^® restaurants have teamed with the United States Postal Service (USPS) to host a military letter writing campaign during a special Family Night event at each of the area’s 36 locations on Nov. 10 from 5:30 – 8 p.m. Chick-fil-A will provide post cards at each location for parents and children to write encouraging messages to our troops overseas.

Once a customer has completed their note, the postcards will be collected by Chick-fil-A team members for the mailing to military men and women serving overseas. Each Chick-fil-A restaurant will also feature different activities throughout the evening, including Chick-fil-A “Eat Mor Chikin^®” Cow appearances, food promotions, games and more! Check with your local store for specific details and activities.

“We are excited to team up with the USPS to honor the tremendous efforts of all the service men and women who tirelessly commit themselves to the protection of our country,” said Jane Melton, Tampa area marketing director for Chick-fil-A. “We invite the community to join us for a fun evening, and to dine with us while helping send some encouragement to our troops overseas!”

The special event honors the first nationwide partnership between Chick-fil-A and the USPS for the chain’s Kid’s Meal Program. Chick-fil-A Kid’s Meals will include five different USPS-themed premium items from Oct. 26 – Nov. 28. The partnership with the USPS continues Chick-fil-A’s long-standing commitment to providing Kid’s Meal premiums that promote adult-child interaction and that emphasize the importance of strong character and education. During 2009, Chick-fil-A Kid’s Meals have included exciting premiums such as CD-ROMs, storybooks, mystery games and more.

About Chick-fil-A, Inc.

Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is the nation’s second-largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain (based on sales), currently with more than 1,470 restaurants in 38 states and Washington D.C. Chick-fil-A produced record sales in 2008 of $2.96 billion – a 12.17 percent overall increase and an 4.59 percent same-store sales gain that helped extend the chain’s streak of consecutive sales gains to 41 years.

Credited with inventing the boneless breast of chicken sandwich and first introducing the chicken nugget concept, Chick-fil-A serves nutritious and freshly prepared food products in mall locations, stand-alone restaurants, drive-thru-only restaurants, Chick-fil-A Dwarf House^® and Truett’s Grill^® full-service restaurants, and through licensed outlets in college campuses, hospitals, airports, businesses and industrial sites. More information about Chick-fil-A is available on the chain’s websites, located at www.chick-fil-a.com, www.chick-fil-apressroom.com, www.truettcathy.com, www.facebook.com/chick-fil-a and www.twitter.com/chick_fil_a.

About USPS

An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 149 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes, six days a week. It has 34,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services, not tax dollars, to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.

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Brings Back Memories

Last night, the family and I traveled to Tampa to share our amazing adoption story with future adoptive parents. Wow, pulling into the parking lot of The Children's Home brought memories flooding back.

Memories of being the future adoptive parents sitting there in the those same plastic seats listening to the case workers explain how the system works...listening to them talk about children....possible behaviors...learning terms like termination of parental rights.....guardian ad litem...home studies....

Memories of going through the process with our children....when they first moved in....going to court...appeals...unpacking....painting rooms...adjustments...so many memories...recollections...

So we shared our story. We answered questions. I was so proud of our children--even Hamee spoke loudly and clearly. We are very open with our story and if it helps just one more child find the loving home that we have then it is worth it. I'm proud of Jahid sharing his initial fears and feelings of when they moved in. I'm proud of Karam for showing off her gymnastics skills and showing her smile and sense of humor.

I love our family and last night was just another reminder of how far we have come.

Maybe we should do this again...the story is still being written.

Dinner Traditions

Our family is unique. We don't all look the same, have the same skin color, or even the same genes. However, we are a family through and through. When we first adopted our children, we started the tradition of going around the dinner table each night and sharing one good thing and one bad thing that happened throughout the day. This helped the kids begin to open up to us, start conversations, and simply communicate with each other.

Five years later, the lines of communication are wide open and we don't do it every evening, but we do try to continue the tradition.

One of the great things we like to do especially during the holiday season is to include our entire family in this process. You would be surprise the things you can learn from Great Grandma, by asking for a good thing and bad thing from the day. Or sharing the best and worst Thanksgiving memories. So many stories that will not be lost simply by asking questions.

This Thanksgiving, try asking everyone to share around the table, it works for me. And for more holiday ideas and tips that might work for you, visit Kristen at We Are That Family.

Time, time is ticking away

Time, time is ticking away....tick, tick, ticking away.

Why is an old DC Talk song running thru my head? Cause I'm just good like that. Almost everything in life I can somehow fit in or tie to a song...a moment...some sort of music. Today it's old school DC Talk.

Time After Time...Time is going by so quickly. We've lived in Auburndale for three months now. Sometimes it seems so short and other times with some of the relationships we have formed it seems like we have lived here for years. Sometimes it is not the quantity of time you spend together, sometimes it is the quality. Let me tell you, we have had lots of quality time with a certain college age group here in the WH/A-dale area.

As Time Goes By....We're nearing three years that the adoption has been finalized (it was five years that our children have lived with us in September). Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday Jahid was a chubby cheeked 10 year old--now he's 15 with a full beard. Hamee is taller than both of us and coming out of his shell more as the days go by. Karam is still crazy, but so generous with her love and she's going to be 10 in February! 10....my baby. Where did it all go?

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...It's November--we're in my favorite stretch of the year. I love the holiday seasons--the chaos, the food, the friends, the family, the cooler weather, the decorations and smells of the season...I love it all. Yet this year it has crept up on me and I feel so ill prepared. I usually have multiple presents bought by now, the lists all made, the schedule all planned....

Time of your Life....Time goes by so quickly, many days I feel I am flying by the seat of my pants...just going with the flow from one activity to the next with no break in between. But I don't want it to go by so quickly that I don't enjoy it. I want to stop and smell the roses. I want to savor each moment.

Hit Me Baby One More Time....Even though we are heading into that crazy time of year when most people want to run and hide, I am determined to enjoy each and every moment. Every report card, every Sunday Supper, every random car trip, Christmas party, church service, etc. I'm going to make the most of my time!

Menu Plan Monday

Sunday: Surprise Party at Olive Garden for Megoon's B-day

Monday: Island Kielbasa

Tuesday: On the road--we are speaking as part of a panel to future adoptive parents

Wednesday: The Pit Stop (youth group Snack Shack)

Thursday: Gyro burgers and onion rings (didn't get to have these last week--have to be flexible)

Friday: The family is going to fend for themselves while I go to Orlando with some girlfriends!

Most importantly, we made another Paula Deen Red Velvet Cake this weekend. My kids are loving it. We only put a slight twist on it since we made it on Halloween--Purple Velvet Cake. It was oh so ghoulishly good--can't wait to make another.